The South never plays itself : a film buff's journey through the South on screen
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Many of American cinema's most defining movies have roots in the South. Be they films that excite (No Country for Old Men), amuse (My Cousin Vinny), or disturb (Deliverance), Southern movies remain some of the most evocative in modern filmmaking. The South Never Plays Itself examines the historical and cultural legacy of the South and the silver screen, a relationship as tangled and inextricable as Spanish moss. From the racist propaganda of The Birth of a Nation to the twangy romp of Altman's Nashville, the South's incongruous and complex character has been explored throughout the short but storied history of film. In The South Never Plays Itself, author Ben Beard describes the Southern myths and truths these films share with American moviegoers--,Provided by publisher.